B. Serpil Acar

Two-dimensional statistical linear discriminant analysis for real-time robust vehicle-type recognition

Automatic vehicle Make and Model Recognition (MMR) systems provide useful performance enhancements to vehicle recognitions systems that are solely based on Automatic License Plate Recognition (ALPR) systems. Several car MMR systems have been proposed in literature. However these approaches are based on feature detection algorithms that can perform sub-optimally under adverse lighting and/or occlusion conditions. In this paper we propose a real time, appearance based, car MMR approach using Two Dimensional Linear Discriminant Analysis that is capable of addressing this limitation. We provide experimental results to analyse the proposed algorithms robustness under varying illumination and occlusions conditions. We have shown that the best performance with the proposed 2D-LDA based car MMR approach is obtained when the eigenvectors of lower significance are ignored. For the given database of 200 car images of 25 different make-model classifications, a best accuracy of 91% was obtained with the 2D-LDA approach. We use a direct Principle Component Analysis (PCA) based approach as a benchmark to compare and contrast the performance of the proposed 2D-LDA approach to car MMR. We conclude that in general the 2D-LDA based algorithm supersedes the performance of the PCA based approach.

Computational pregnant occupant model, ‘Expecting’, for crash simulations

AbstractA computational model of the pregnant occupant, which is capable of simulating the dynamic response to acceleration impacts, is introduced. The occupant model represents a 5th percentile female at around the 38th week of pregnancy. A finite element uterus and multi-body fetus is integrated into an existing female model to incorporate pregnant female anthropometry.The complete model, ‘Expecting’, is used to simulate a range of frontal impacts of increasing severity from 15km/h to 45km/h. Three levels of occupant restraint, completely unrestrained, three-point seat belt, and three-point seat belt with an airbag, are investigated. The strains developed in the uterus because of loading from the seat belt and steering-wheel unit are presented, together with an analysis of stress distribution due to inertial loading of the fetus on the uterus.The unrestrained cases are shown to be the most dangerous to the fetus, owing to the large interaction with the vehicle steering wheel at the level of the placenta...Abstract A computational model of the pregnant occupant, which is capable of simulating the dynamic response to acceleration impacts, is introduced. The occupant model represents a 5th percentile female at around the 38th week of pregnancy. A finite element uterus and multi-body fetus is integrated into an existing female model to incorporate pregnant female anthropometry. The complete model, ‘Expecting’, is used to simulate a range of frontal impacts of increasing severity from 15km/h to 45km/h. Three levels of occupant restraint, completely unrestrained, three-point seat belt, and three-point seat belt with an airbag, are investigated. The strains developed in the uterus because of loading from the seat belt and steering-wheel unit are presented, together with an analysis of stress distribution due to inertial loading of the fetus on the uterus. The unrestrained cases are shown to be the most dangerous to the fetus, owing to the large interaction with the vehicle steering wheel at the level of the placenta. The use of a three-point seat belt together with a driver airbag appears to offer the greatest protection to the fetus.

Analysis of an assessment method for problem-based learning

The paper commences by briefly introducing the systems engineering programme, then focuses on the ‘systems’ module, which requires the first-year students to undertake a number of ‘open-ended’ projects. During the problem-based learning (PBL) based projects the students are expected to combine creativity and the knowledge they acquire during the theoretical sessions. The paper analyses cohorts overall first-year marks and the ‘systems’ marks together with other module marks in an anonymous fashion. The paper concludes by discussing the patterns and by providing evidence for strengthening factors in assessment methods in PBL.

Releasing Creativity in an Interdisciplinary Systems Engineering Course.

SUMMARY In this paper, the Queens Anniversary Prize winning MEng degree programme in Systems Engineering and creative systems module at Loughborough University are described. The way that the creativity is encouraged, the use of systems understanding and the new model for design processes are explained. Some examples of projects and student work are given for support.

Distributed Body Weight Over the Whole Spine for Improved Inference in Spine Modelling

Numerous models used to investigate the causes of low back pain are based upon the concept of the lever model that considers equilibrium of forces and moments about a single intervertebral joint. Consideration of forces and moments at each intervertebral joint is essential if a more realistic idea of the loading on the spine is to be obtained. This will also allow the role of the curvature of the spine to be investigated. A distributed loading pattern for forces due to body weight for the whole spine has not been investigated before. In this paper, a distributed loading pattern for the whole spine for various postures is investigated and the potential impact on the calculations is discussed.

Pregnant driver injury investigations through modelling and simulation of full-frontal crashes with and without airbags

Road traffic accidents have become an increasingly important element in maternal deaths. It is important to investigate the injury mechanisms and injury levels that pregnant women may be subjected to in order to improve transport safety. The three dimensional computational model ‘Expecting’, which embodies a detailed multi-body model of a fetus in a finite element model of uterus with a placenta, is developed at Loughborough University. The model is designed to simulate dynamic loading conditions that pregnant occupants may experience. In this study, ‘Expecting’ is used to study the kinematics of pregnant occupants to predict the injury levels to the pregnant driver in frontal crashes. The implications of ‘No Restraint’, ‘Seat Belt Only’ and ‘Seat Belt and Airbag’ cases are investigated for various crash severities, from 15 to 45 kph. Crash analysis injury criteria such as head injury criterion (HIC), 3 ms maximum, combined thoracic index (CTI) and viscous criterion (max VC) are used. The results suggest that the frontal airbag together with the correctly worn seatbelt provide better protection for the pregnant drivers.

Effects of Table Design in Railway Carriages on Pregnant Occupant Safety

This paper focuses on safety investigations for pregnant occupants, in particular, on their interactions with an interior feature, fixed bay tables, in railway vehicles. The computational pregnant occupant model Expecting has represented pregnant travellers in railway vehicle environments. Expecting is a computational pregnant occupant model developed at Loughborough University, in order to investigate the dynamic response of pregnant women to impacts. It has been successfully utilised by the authors in earlier studies, in various automobile crash investigations, such as frontal impacts with real and simplified crash pulses. In this study, a model of a network train carriage is generated and used together with Expecting to assess the suitability of fixed bay table designs for pregnant occupants. Investigations of potential injuries in this paper are believed to contribute to the design of more suitable interior features and hence improve safety and quality of life for pregnant women as travellers in railway vehicles.

Pregnant driver injury investigations in oblique crashes

Kinetics and kinematics of an oblique impact are different when compared with frontal collisions. The objective of this research is to simulate various oblique crash scenarios that pregnant drivers may experience by using the computational pregnant occupant model, Expecting and investigate potential injuries that pregnant drivers may suffer. Half-sine acceleration pulses representing crash speeds, 15 to 45 kph are used in the simulations. Oblique impact simulations are conducted both from the nearside and the farside (offside) of the vehicle. The placental abruption and hence foetus mortality risks during oblique crashes are compared with the full-frontal impact cases.

Testing to Investigate the Use of Lap Belt Positioners During Pregnancy

Some pregnant women do not use the seat belt, and many have the lap belt incorrectly positioned across the abdomen instead of across the hips. Seat belt positioners are available as aftermarket products that claim to hold the lap belt in the correct position and prevent it from riding upward onto the abdomen. The Hybrid III 5th percentile female dummy with MAMA2B pregnancy conversion kit is used to investigate comparatively whether the positioners increase or decrease the protection of the original seat belt. The tests clearly support the correct positioning of the lap belt over the hips rather than on the abdomen. The tests suggest the use of the aftermarket seat belt positioners offers no obvious disadvantage (higher abdominal pressure) compared to use of the lap belt in the correct position across the hips. It can be concluded that if the use of positioners encourages pregnant women firstly to use the seat belt, and secondly possibly to help position it correctly across the hips, then this might offer benefit.© 2010 ASME

Special issue: design for transport safety

Design for Transport Safety Special Issue is largely based on the research presented at the Special Session with the same title at the UMTIK 2014, 16th International Conference on Machine Design and Production which took place during 30 June-3 July 2014 in Izmir, Turkey.